1963: A tragic event unfolded as a bomb exploded during Sunday services at the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, claiming the lives of four Black girls. (Eventually, three Ku Klux Klansmen were convicted for their roles in the devastating blast.)

1776: British forces seized control of New York City during the American Revolution, marking a significant development in the conflict.

1789: The U.S. Department of Foreign Affairs underwent a name change and became known as the Department of State.

1857: William Howard Taft, who would go on to serve as President of the United States and as U.S. Chief Justice, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio.

1862: General Stonewall Jackson and Confederate forces achieved a major victory during the American Civil War as they captured Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now in West Virginia). This resulted in the largest Union surrender of the war, with over 12,500 prisoners taken.

1935: The Nuremberg Laws were enacted, stripping German Jews of their citizenship and further marginalizing them during a dark period in history.

1940: The tide turned in the World War II Battle of Britain as the Royal Air Force dealt heavy losses to the Luftwaffe, marking a significant shift in the conflict.

1949: The iconic character of The Lone Ranger, originally a radio series, made its television debut. Clayton Moore portrayed the renegade lawman, while Jay Silverheels played Tonto.

1959: Nikita Khrushchev made history as the first Soviet head of state to visit the United States. His arrival at Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington marked a significant moment in international relations.

1963: Tragedy struck as the predominantly African American 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, was bombed by members of the Ku Klux Klan, resulting in the loss of four young girls' lives.

1972: Seven men were indicted by a federal grand jury in Washington in connection with the infamous Watergate break-in.

1978: Muhammad Ali secured his third world heavyweight boxing championship by defeating Leon Spinks.

1981: The Supreme Court nomination of Sandra Day O'Connor received unanimous approval from the Senate Judiciary Committee.

1985: Nike introduced its iconic "Air Jordan 1" sneaker, which quickly gained popularity among consumers.

2001: In response to the September 11 attacks, President George W. Bush ordered U.S. troops to prepare for war and prepared Americans for a challenging and lengthy battle against terrorists. Afghans in Kabul fled, fearing potential U.S. military action against the Taliban regime harboring Osama bin Laden.

2006: Ford Motor Co. underwent significant restructuring efforts to become a leaner and more competitive company. This involved massive job cuts and the closure of two additional plants.

2021: California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom successfully defeated a recall effort aimed at removing him from office.

2022: President Joe Biden announced that federal mediators had successfully facilitated an agreement, preventing a rail strike that would have had severe consequences for the U.S. economy.